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PROVINCETOWN
by Enrique Perez
Approaching Provincetown from the air, the expansive,
sandy beaches of Herring Cove, the navy blue Atlantic
waters, and the magnificent dunes inspire awe, as they
have for thousands of other visitors each year to this
Cape Cod beachside resort. All along P-town’s famous
Commercial Street you will encounter a plethora of rainbow
flags, quaint shops with white trimming, inns, B&Bs,
restaurants, galleries, and throngs of people enjoying
one of the most GLBT-welcoming towns in America.
When it comes to accommodations, P-town
has some of the finest GLBT-owned properties in the
country. Under new ownership, The Pilgrim House
(336 Commercial Street. Tel: 508-487-6424. www.thepilgrimhouse.com)
has perked up its look with an updated, modern contemporary
design. Expect your room here to have a queen-size bed
covered with high-thread count white sheets, accent
pillows in nautical greens and blues, an iHome docking
station and alarm clock, and Rusk spa-inspired bath
amenities. Located above Vixen nightclub, it is the
perfect location for those wanting to be where all the
action is. Guests staying on the second floor should
be wary that noise might be heard until 1 A.M. from
the shows and dancing below.
Those wanting a quiet night’s rest
should check out the Somerset House Inn (378
Commercial Street. Tel: 508-487-0383. www.somersethouseinn.com).
Highly visible, due to its lavender exterior, the inn
is located in the middle of Commercial Street, a short
walk to nearby restaurants and clubs. Beautiful interior
archways decorated with custom stained glass welcome
guests into the cozy B&B. Gay-owned and open year
round, Somerset House offers boldly painted rooms with
plush bedding, a fireplace for cool nights, and a complimentary
hot breakfast with items like homemade blueberry pancakes
and quiche. Ever thoughtful, the Somerset staff also
offers guests shuttle service from the Provincetown
airport or ferry.
The Brass Key Guesthouse (67
Bradford Street. Tel: 508-487-9005. www.brasskey.com)
underwent a large-scale revamping recently. Over a million
dollars was spent renovating the gay-owned hotel’s
43 guest rooms and the development of two new luxury
suites. The Cabana Suite and Penthouse Suite both boast
pampering amenities like a king-size bed, flat screen
TV, two person glass shower, Franklin stove, and private
deck. Walk outside and toward the very back of the establishment,
behind the Queen Anne building and spa area, and you’ll
find the ideal setting for your wedding or next private
party at the new Events Pavilion. The sweeping staircases
will take you to a white pergola surrounded by pristine
flowers and manicured bushes. “The Brass Key has
always been one of the premiere hotels in Provincetown,”
says Kenneth Masi, one of three owners. “It just
needed a little TLC.”
A new addition to P-town is The Waterford
Inn, Cafe & Tavern (386 Commercial Street. Tel:
508-487-6400. www.thewaterfordinn.com).
Formerly The Commons, this gay-owned establishment was
completely renovated this past spring. Under the slogan,
“Pampered luxury in the heart of it all,”
the inn boasts 13 deluxe rooms and suites with contemporary
décor, private decks with views of Provincetown
Harbor and Pilgrim Monument, and even a nightly wine
and hors d’oeuvres reception to welcome guests.
The Waterford Café offers casual dining with
food ranging from seafood specials to oven-baked pizza
and pasta. Don’t forget to enjoy a martini at Captain
Lavender’s rooftop tavern deck as you watch the
crowd on Commercial Street below.
Dining options abound in P-town, and
those who appreciate a simple, Zen-like environment
should book a table at the new Pan-Asian restaurant,
Wabi Dumplings (206 Commercial Street. Tel: 508-413-3300.
www.wabidumplings.com).
A mainly outdoor location, Wabi’s décor
would best be described as industrial Asian fusion,
with stainless steel tables, Japanese Sumi ink paintings,
and an herb garden filled with hibiscus and pansies.
Meaning “earthy, rustic, natural, and unpretentious”
in Japanese, Wabi provides diners seasonally fresh,
organic, and locally grown food. Celebrated chefs Mike
Fennelley and Ellen Rossi prepare delectable dumpling
versions of tuna spring rolls, lobster rolls, or chicken
and steak satay. Also available are non-dumpling choices,
like the Wabi burger, which can be enjoyed next to a
Thai Buddha statue in the restaurant’s courtyard
facing Commercial Street. An environmentally friendly
restaurant, Wabi’s owners make sure that all of
their packaging is recyclable, sustainable, and biodegradable.
Fine lines, a cathedral ceiling, dark
wood chairs, and a stone fireplace make Victor’s
(175 Bradford Street. Tel: 508-487-1777. www.victorsptown.com)
an ideal place for dinner with friends and family. Serving
everything from breakfast to cocktails, Victor’s
menu includes a raw bar filled with oysters, clams,
shrimp, and sashimi. If raw seafood isn’t your
thing, Victor’s also has a “small plates”
dinner, appropriately sized for tasting and sharing,
which includes delicacies like crispy coconut shrimp,
tagine style lamb shank, and pan-seared salmon. Owner
Victor Depaulo also provides guests an extensive wine
and cocktail menu that is sure to quench your thirst
and not break the bank.
If you’re more in the mood for
sushi and sashimi, try some of the maguro, unagi, and,
of course, sake at the new SAKI, Sushi Bar (258
Commercial Street. Tel: 508-487-4870). Over 18 months,
owner Steven Schnitzer transformed this former nineteenth-century
church into a stunning, two-story, sushi and Asian fusion
restaurant and bar. Twenty-foot ceilings, expansive
windows, and one-of-a-kind lighting fixtures, set SAKI
apart from your typical Japanese restaurant. “It
would remind you of a place that would be in Manhattan
or Miami,” describes Provincetown Tourism Director
Bob Sanborn. Also an eco-friendly restaurant, SAKI’s
tables and sushi bar were made from floorboards and
beams salvaged during construction.
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